Armored all-terrain vehicles of the VPK-3924 “Medved” and GAZ-3937 “Vodnik” families will be demonstrated at the exhibition as part of the army competition “Masters of armored vehicles” that has started in the Moscow region.
This was reported by the press service of the Western Military District.
“For the first time in the Moscow region, during the all-army stage of the competition“ Masters of armored vehicles ”ARMI-2021, an armored car of the extreme family“ Bear ”and an armored car“ Vodnik ”will be presented,” the press service of the Russian Defense Ministry said.
There will also be shown modern armored vehicles "Typhoon", "Tiger" and "Lynx", combat buggy "Sarmat", sports cars - participants of races in Europe and the rally "Paris-Dakar", retro cars, motorcycles from the corteges of the first persons of the state.
The footsteps of the beast
The Medved family of armored vehicles is designed for counter-terrorist operations, territorial defense missions, and the transportation of cargo and airborne assault forces.
The machine was created by specialists of the Military Industrial Company LLC (MIC).
Weight of "Bear" - 14 tons, height - 2.72 m, length - 6.16 m, width - 2.55 m, maximum speed on the highway - not less than 105 km / h, cruising range - 800 km, number of landing places - 9, carrying capacity (depending on modification) - from 1.7 to 2.6 tons.
This all-terrain vehicle has a supporting body on which all components and assemblies are attached.
According to the developer, the YaMZ-53601 six-cylinder diesel engine provides the Bear with good traction and dynamic characteristics, and the independent torsion bar suspension of all wheels ensures smooth running and high off-road speed.
“The body is armored, load-bearing, welded from steel sheets.
The inhabited compartment is one-volume.
Boarding and disembarkation is carried out through two side and one rear swing double doors.
There are two hatches in the hull roof.
All glasses are bullet-resistant, glued into the armor frames and are removable window modules, ”the military-industrial complex said.
To increase the ballistic protection of the perimeter of the manned compartment of the "Bear" inside the hull, you can install additional removable armor elements and mine protection kits on the bottom.
As explained in the military-industrial complex, due to the use of removable internal armored modules, it is possible to change the protection class and, accordingly, the carrying capacity, including by the crew.
In the basic modification of the "Medved" with a carrying capacity of 2.6 tons (without mine protection), the 3rd class of armor protection is provided - during circular firing of the vehicle from a distance of 5-10 m from an AK-74 assault rifle with a 5.45 mm caliber cartridge or an AKM assault rifle with a 7 caliber cartridge , 62 mm with conventional PS bullets with non-heat-strengthened steel core.
In the version with a carrying capacity of 2.3 tons, the VPK-3924 withstands damage from an SVD rifle with a 57-N-323S cartridge of 7.62 mm caliber with an LPS bullet with a conventional core or from an AKM cartridge 57-N-321 of 7.62 mm caliber with a PS bullet with a heat-strengthened steel core (5th class of protection).
The most armored version of the vehicle with a carrying capacity of 2.1 tons (or 1.7 tons with mine protection) provides protection during circular fire from a distance of 5-10 m from an SVD rifle with a 7-BZ-3 cartridge of 7.62 mm caliber with an armor-piercing incendiary bullet B -32 (protection class 6A).
To ensure the safety of the crew during the detonation of mines, "Bear" received energy-absorbing screens, special geometry and a special design of the bottom.
In addition, the seats in the car are equipped with four-point seat belts, anti-overload mechanisms and footrests with energy-absorbing mats.
VPK-3924 "Bear" in mountain conditions
© VPK LLC
The military-industrial complex calls maintainability as another advantage of its brainchild.
VPK-3924 is equipped with a power monoblock extension mechanism, which provides convenient access to the engine and the electro-pneumatic gearbox drive.
“Maintenance operations are carried out without extending the power monoblock.
The units and assemblies of the fuel supply systems, pneumatic systems and braking systems are located in a removable suspension module and are easily accessible for maintenance and repair, ”the military-industrial complex said.
In an interview with RT, military expert Alexei Khlopotov noted the high driving characteristics and the level of security of the Medved.
According to him, this all-terrain vehicle is "one of the heaviest and most powerful vehicles in its class."
"The army definitely needs it"
GAZ-3937 "Vodnik" is a type of two-axle armored all-terrain vehicles with a 4x4 wheel arrangement.
Work on the first samples of this machine took place in the 1980s, approximately simultaneously with the implementation of the Humvee army all-terrain vehicle project in the United States.
At the same time, the Nizhny Novgorod enterprise avoids comparison with an American car, paying attention to the difference in technical solutions.
"Vodnik" passed state tests on the basis of the 21st Scientific Research Testing Institute of Military Automotive Equipment of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, several vehicles were sent to Chechnya to perform combat missions.
In the second half of the 2000s, products of this family began to arrive in the Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies of Russia.
About 50 armored vehicles were sold to Uruguay.
Now, almost 15 years after the deal, Vodnik samples are being used during the UN peacekeeping mission (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights, where the soldiers of this Latin American country are involved.
Hoy el Departamento de Operaciones de Paz de la ONU confirmó el incremento de efectivos en la Misión en Alturas del Golan.
Un nuevo reconocimiento al profesionalismo y compromiso de las FFAA.
pic.twitter.com/7ofT6OIoER
- Rivera Elgue, nieto de uruguayos.
(@ElgueDoR) August 6, 2020
GAZ-3937 does not have special devices for movement on the water surface (propeller, jet propellers or ground tracks), but the car is able to overcome a ford up to 1.2 m deep.
A feature of the Nizhny Novgorod all-terrain vehicle is the modular-type supporting body.
Depending on the functionality being performed, one of the blocks can be mounted in the rear of the all-terrain vehicle: for transporting an assault force of eight servicemen, transporting various goods, transporting the wounded, performing chores or even temporary accommodation.
The Vodnik design allows the installation of a 14.5 mm Vladimirov system machine gun (KPVT) and a 7.62 mm Kalashnikov machine gun (PKT).
In addition, the rear of the vehicle is capable of carrying cannon or rocket armament.
Thanks to the quick release mechanism, modules can be replaced even in the field.
The standard rear block of the GAZ-3937 is equipped with six doors that open upwards and are held in this position by gas shock absorbers.
The front module of the vehicle is designed to accommodate the driver, commander and radio operator.
It also consists of a power-engine compartment and a control compartment, separated by a sealed partition.
To increase the secrecy of movement, Vodnik's exhaust gases go out under the bottom of the car.
“A special feature of Vodnik is a unified modular body - it is a platform on which modules of various purposes can be installed.
A very convenient solution that provides the car with completely new functions, ”explained Aleksey Khlopotov.
Sanitary modification of "Vodnik" on exercises in the Leningrad region
© Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Nizhny Novgorod engineers also took care of the security of their offspring.
The Vodnik's armor protects the crew from shrapnel and being hit by 7.62 mm bullets.
The wheels of the car are taken out of the bearing body, due to which, when blown up by a mine, the main blow from the unsprung masses and the air wave go into the wing, made of a thin sheet.
This significantly reduces the shock load on the machine body.
The disadvantages of the basic version of "Vodnik" include too loud noise of the engine and chassis, which prevents the provision of normal internal communication.
In addition, the car has a flat bottom, which impairs survivability when detonating mines or land mines.
According to experts, the main advantages of Vodnik lie in good maneuverability, high maneuverability, unpretentiousness, reliability, unification of components with serial samples of domestic armored vehicles and a modest cost compared to other similar products.
“Such a vehicle is definitely needed by the army, especially for transportation in complete off-road conditions.
Now, as far as I understand, the troops use not only previously released samples, but also modernized versions, where previously identified shortcomings have been eliminated, ”noted Dmitry Kornev, founder of the Military Russia portal.
According to experts, the appearance of armored all-terrain vehicles "Vodnik", "Medved" and other samples ("Tigr-M", "Athlete", "Typhoon") in the troops and in the arsenals of the power departments of the Russian Federation suggests that the Russian industry is capable of independently developing and produce a wide range of modern off-road armored vehicles.
“In Soviet times, there were certain problems with the saturation of the army and special forces with such machines. The domestic industry has gone through a difficult path and eventually reached a level that allows the production of armored vehicles that meet modern standards of cross-country ability, crew comfort, firepower and security, "Kornev emphasized.